Welcome to my new story, Living in the Silence. I hope you enjoy it!
By the way, I chose a theme song for this story (as I do for all my stories) and this time it's 'Skyscraper' by Demi Lovato. Now, I'm not crazy over Demi or anything, but I just LOVE this song! It's amazing, and it fits great with this story, you'll see.
Disclaimer: I don't own Fairy Tail. That's Mashima's job.
Note: this is someone writing. "This is someone talking." 'This is someone thinking.'
~Living in the Silence~
Chapter 1
~If everything you say gets laughed at…then you become afraid of everyone…and are no longer able to speak…even knowing all that does is bother everyone…your heart…shuts down…and your words die…" ~Natsuki Takaya, Fruits Basket, Vol. 5
13 years ago…
"You've done well, Miss."
"Where is he?"
"Well…the doctor was checking him over, and…"
"What?"
"What's wrong with our son, Nurse?"
"…I don't know how to put this…"
"Just tell us, please!"
"Your son is…Romeo is…"
.
.
.
10 years ago…
Romeo, this is Natsu.
The three-year-old cocked his head to the side in confusion as to what his father told him, while the unfamiliar seven-year-old smiled and waved at the younger boy.
He's your big brother now.
.
.
.
7 years ago…
Romeo stepped back when a boy his age waved his hand mockingly in front of his face.
"Haha! What a weirdo!"
"He only notices when he sees your hand!"
"What about this?"
The boy shoved him to the ground, making Romeo's eyes stare up at him in shock.
"He can't hear what we're saying, so we just have to show him!"
"Yeah! Hahahaha!"
"Hey!"
All the kids stiffened when they heard the rough voice from afar.
"What are you doing to my brother, huh? !"
The kids scrambled inside, avoiding Natsu's so-called rage.
The pink-haired boy knelt down beside Romeo as he took a notebook out of his pocket and started writing on it.
Are you okay?
Romeo hesitated before writing something down as well.
Why don't they like me? was on the paper in messy penmanship.
Natsu frowned and looked back at him as he read.
People think and do mean things sometimes. Don't mind them.
The younger child nodded.
.
.
.
4 years ago…
Natsu-nii…I don't think I'll make it in school…
Natsu blinked, Why not?
Romeo frowned as he wrote, Everyone's gonna bully me because you're not there anymore.
You'll have to stand up for yourself then.
I'm not sure how I can.
Natsu put his hands on the boy's shoulders and gave him the famous grin that made his all the girls fall in love with him-or at least that's what he said.
You're gonna be fine.
Then he was gone, off to high school.
Nothing went right without him.
After the first day, Natsu went to pick Romeo up from school. He was about to let him read a note when he was tackled by his little brother.
If he could have asked what was wrong, he would have. But when the pink-haired teen felt tears on his t-shirt, he knew that everything had gone wrong for Romeo.
He couldn't find the strength to write an apology.
.
.
.
Now…
A now thirteen-year-old Romeo sat alone at the picnic table outside, reading his book. Suddenly, he felt something hit the side of his head. He gritted his teeth and grabbed his right temple while looking under the table to see what hit him. It was a small rock.
The purple-headed boy resisted the urge to attack the bullies as well, who were retreating behind the bushes-and went back to reading his book.
This happened almost every day to him at Magnolia Academy of Magic. The kids continued to physically hurt him, since verbal abuse wouldn't work. After that, he would have the urge to attack with magic, and that was never a good thing. But at some points, when the kids used their own magic, he had no chioce. And he ended up with the school counselor each time for 'help'.
So he buried himself in reading, drawing, and anything else you could do without hearing or talking.
Romeo sighed-not making a sound, of course. Oh how he wished he could be like his Natsu-nii…to be loud, talkative, encouraging, strong…all of which were impossible.
His only friends were Natsu-nii, and Cana, the odd fortune-teller girl who lived across the street and was addicted to alcohol. And from the looks of it, things were going to stay that way.
He felt a tap on his shoulder and saw the yard supervisor. Romeo closed his book and got up, knowing that he was being taken to the nurse for the scratch on the right side of his head, thanks to the rock from earlier.
That's another thing. Everyone treated him like a baby. Sure, he was-what everyone liked to call disabled-but that didn't mean he couldn't take care of himself!
Five minutes later, he walked into class and sat with all the other eighth graders. He found a note attached to his desk and read it:
Deaf and dumb! Haha!
After seeing the word 'deaf', Romeo crumpled up the note and shoved it in the empty desk beside his. He noticed how all the people around him perked up and shut their mouths once their teacher, Mr. Clive (Cana's father), walked into the room. But behind him, was a girl he had never seen before.
The tall and lean man began to write on the board.
Good morning, class. Today, as you can see, we have a new student.
Mr. Clive handed the chalk to Wendy. She wrote her own line underneath his.
I'm Wendy Marvell. I hope I can get along with everyone!
When she turned around and gave a sweet smile to the rest of the class, Romeo knew immediately that there was something odd about her. Usually, the new kid would be shaking like a leaf and slowly writing just their name on the board.
Romeo blinked when Mr. Clive pointed to him. Although, the thing that bewildered him was that Wendy was coming towards him. He looked to his right and saw the empty desk, and understood.
Wendy was going to be his seatmate.